DODOMA, TANZANIA ― Nutrition International and the Tanzanian President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) strengthening their partnership to address malnutrition in the country, with a special focus on newborns, children, women and adolescent girls.

“Tanzania has a clear vision for where it wants to be by 2025, and to achieve this vision, we need to make sure future generations can take full advantage of their physical and cognitive potential ― and focusing on improving nutrition is key,” said the Honourable Selemani Jafo, Tanzanian Minister of State, PO-RALG. “We welcome this important partnership with Nutrition International, as it will make a significant contribution to our country’s efforts in fighting malnutrition.”

Through the agreement, Nutrition International commits to working with the PO-RALG, the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, the Prime Minister’s Office through the SUN focal point, the Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre and other stakeholders to:

• develop, implement, monitor and evaluate nutrition programs related to women of reproductive age, newborns, children, and adolescents with focus on a nutrition package for the first 1,000 days, vitamin A supplementation, nutrition education, iron and folic acid supplementation, and fortification;
• strengthen governance and coordination of nutrition activities at all levels to enhance program ownership, accountability and sustainability of investments in nutrition;
• advocate for evidence-based, low-cost and high-impact nutrition interventions and increased domestic financing for nutrition; and
• strengthen the government’s nutrition information systems and research to ensure improved availability of data for effective tracking of nutrition indicators and improve planning, resource allocation and coordination of nutrition activities at various levels.

“We are excited to be deepening our partnership with the Government of Tanzania in its efforts to eliminate malnutrition,” said Dr Abdulaziz Adish, Deputy Regional Director for Nutrition International, Africa. “The leadership and momentum we are seeing is inspiring and a clear example of the country’s determination to achieve national goals. With a sharper focus on providing better nutrition for its citizens – particularly for women and girls – Tanzania will not only improve their lives, but the lives of generations to come.”

The MOU solidifies the ongoing collaborative efforts between the Government and Tanzania and Nutrition International. Nutrition International has worked in the country since 2016, providing technical assistance and financial support, including the development of the National Multisectoral Nutrition Action Plan, through the organization’s Nutrition Technical Assistance Mechanism’s Technical Assistance for Nutrition project, funded with UK aid from the UK Government. Over the last five years, Nutrition International has been implementing Right Start, an initiative to improve the nutrition and health of women, adolescent girls, newborns and young children, with support from the governments of Canada and Tanzania.

“Malnutrition is a silent emergency that is threatening Tanzania’s future,” said Dr. Daniel R. Nyagawa, Country Director for Nutrition International Tanzania. “Nutrition International is proud to be working hand in hand with the Government of Tanzania to develop and implement programs and evidence-based interventions that will make a sustainable difference for individuals, families, communities and the country.”

To better facilitate close collaboration with the government, Nutrition International has relocated its office from Dar-es-Salaam to the Public Service Social Security Funds building in Dodoma. At the opening ceremony yesterday, attended by government officials and various stakeholders, the guest of honour, the Honourable Selemani Jafo, praised the move to government headquarters.

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